diff --git a/app/lib/__tests__/bracket-layout.test.ts b/app/lib/__tests__/bracket-layout.test.ts
index f1bd782..70968b0 100644
--- a/app/lib/__tests__/bracket-layout.test.ts
+++ b/app/lib/__tests__/bracket-layout.test.ts
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import {
   LLWS_20,
   SIMPLE_16,
   NFL_14,
+  BRACKET_TEMPLATES,
   getBracketTemplate,
   type BracketTemplate,
   type ConferenceGroup,
@@ -28,6 +29,10 @@ import { GAME_TO_MATCH, MATCH_TO_GAME } from "~/test/fixtures/llws-bracket";
 interface TestMatch {
   round: string;
   matchNumber: number;
+  /** Only the fallback reads these, to trace edges through an unrecognised shape. */
+  winnerId?: string | null;
+  participant1Id?: string | null;
+  participant2Id?: string | null;
 }
 
 /** Every match a template defines, as the renderer would receive them. */
@@ -311,6 +316,157 @@ describe("computeGroupLayout — standard brackets are unchanged", () => {
   });
 });
 
+describe("buildFeederMap — templates with routing of their own", () => {
+  // The halving rule describes advanceWinnerTemplate, not every bracket. Inventing it
+  // where it doesn't hold draws confident, wrong connectors and mislabels slots, which
+  // is worse than drawing nothing.
+
+  it("follows feedsInto rather than the order rounds are listed in", () => {
+    // AFL's Wildcard Round feeds the Elimination Finals, skipping the round printed
+    // next to it, so array order would fabricate the whole chain.
+    const afl = BRACKET_TEMPLATES.afl_10;
+    const feeders = buildFeederMap(afl);
+    const fed = [...feeders.entries()].filter(([, pair]) =>
+      pair.some((s) => s.kind === "match")
+    );
+    // Only Preliminary Finals → Grand Final actually halves.
+    expect(fed.map(([key]) => key)).toEqual(["Grand Final#1"]);
+  });
+
+  it("leaves a bye round's slots seeded rather than inventing feeds", () => {
+    // CFP's First Round (4) feeds the Quarterfinals (4) — the top seeds have byes.
+    const feeders = buildFeederMap(BRACKET_TEMPLATES.cfp_12);
+    expect(feeders.get(matchKey("Quarterfinals", 1))).toEqual([
+      { kind: "seed" },
+      { kind: "seed" },
+    ]);
+  });
+
+  it("leaves the First Four out of the Round of 64", () => {
+    // advanceFirstFourWinner puts each winner in a specific seed slot, not games 1-2.
+    const feeders = buildFeederMap(BRACKET_TEMPLATES.ncaa_68);
+    expect(feeders.get(matchKey("Round of 64", 1))).toEqual([
+      { kind: "seed" },
+      { kind: "seed" },
+    ]);
+  });
+
+  it("leaves the NBA play-in alone, where a loser feeds forward", () => {
+    // Play-In Round 2 pairs the 7v8 loser with the 9v10 winner, so the round sizes
+    // halve but the winners-only rule still doesn't describe it.
+    const feeders = buildFeederMap(BRACKET_TEMPLATES.nba_20);
+    expect(feeders.get(matchKey("Play-In Round 2", 1))).toEqual([
+      { kind: "seed" },
+      { kind: "seed" },
+    ]);
+  });
+
+  it("does not route the FIFA final through the third place game", () => {
+    // Third Place Game sits between Semifinals and Finals in round order, so array
+    // order made it the Finals' feeder and left the Finals' second slot empty.
+    const feeders = buildFeederMap(BRACKET_TEMPLATES.fifa_48);
+    expect(feeders.get(matchKey("Finals", 1))).toEqual([
+      { kind: "match", ref: { round: "Semifinals", matchNumber: 1 }, result: "winner" },
+      { kind: "match", ref: { round: "Semifinals", matchNumber: 2 }, result: "winner" },
+    ]);
+  });
+});
+
+describe("computeGroupLayout — every template still draws connectors", () => {
+  /** Lay a whole template out the way BracketTreeView would. */
+  function layOut(template: BracketTemplate) {
+    const byRound = allMatches(template);
+    const order = template.rounds.map((r) => r.name);
+    // BracketTreeView renders a third place game outside the tree.
+    const rounds = order.filter((r) => r !== "Third Place Game");
+    return computeGroupLayout(rounds, byRound, buildFeederMap(template), order);
+  }
+
+  // A gutter joining a column to one exactly half its size is a plain bracket join and
+  // must always be drawn. Where the sizes don't halve — a bye round, a play-in, the
+  // First Four — the routing is bespoke and nothing is drawn until the games decide it,
+  // which is what these brackets did before.
+  it.each(Object.keys(BRACKET_TEMPLATES).filter((id) => id !== "llws_20"))(
+    "%s draws every gutter that halves",
+    (id) => {
+      const layout = layOut(BRACKET_TEMPLATES[id]);
+      const gutters = new Set(layout.edges.map((e) => e.fromColumn));
+      let halvingGutters = 0;
+      for (let ci = 0; ci < layout.columns.length - 1; ci++) {
+        const from = layout.columns[ci].matches.length;
+        const to = layout.columns[ci + 1].matches.length;
+        if (from !== to * 2) continue;
+        halvingGutters += 1;
+        expect(gutters).toContain(ci);
+      }
+      // Every template has at least one, so a template that lost all its lines fails.
+      expect(halvingGutters).toBeGreaterThan(0);
+    }
+  );
+
+  it("keeps the FIFA bracket a single tree once the third place game is set aside", () => {
+    const layout = layOut(BRACKET_TEMPLATES.fifa_48);
+    expect(layout.columns.map((c) => c.label)).toEqual([
+      "Round of 32",
+      "Round of 16",
+      "Quarterfinals",
+      "Semifinals",
+      "Finals",
+    ]);
+    expect(layout.edges).toHaveLength(30);
+  });
+
+  // llws_20 is excluded above because both sides in one group is genuinely not a tree;
+  // it renders per side, which the tests further up cover.
+});
+
+describe("computeGroupLayout — fallback keeps the old connectors", () => {
+  const rounds = ["Quarterfinals", "Semifinals", "Finals"];
+  const byRound = new Map<string, TestMatch[]>([
+    ["Quarterfinals", [1, 2, 3, 4].map((n) => ({ round: "Quarterfinals", matchNumber: n }))],
+    ["Semifinals", [1, 2].map((n) => ({ round: "Semifinals", matchNumber: n }))],
+    ["Finals", [{ round: "Finals", matchNumber: 1 }]],
+  ]);
+
+  it("infers halving edges when there is no feeder map at all", () => {
+    // A bracket with no template id, which SportSeasonDisplay renders.
+    const layout = computeGroupLayout(rounds, byRound, new Map(), rounds);
+    expect(layout.edges).toHaveLength(6);
+    // Quarterfinals 1 and 2 both join Semifinal 1.
+    const intoFirstSemi = layout.edges.filter((e) => e.toCenter === 1);
+    expect(intoFirstSemi.map((e) => e.fromCenter)).toEqual([0.5, 1.5]);
+  });
+
+  it("traces played winners when the shape is not a halving", () => {
+    const irregular = new Map<string, TestMatch[]>([
+      [
+        "Wildcard",
+        [
+          { round: "Wildcard", matchNumber: 1, winnerId: "a" },
+          { round: "Wildcard", matchNumber: 2, winnerId: "b" },
+        ],
+      ],
+      [
+        "Semifinals",
+        [
+          { round: "Semifinals", matchNumber: 1, participant1Id: "seeded", participant2Id: "b" },
+          { round: "Semifinals", matchNumber: 2, participant1Id: "seeded2", participant2Id: "a" },
+        ],
+      ],
+    ]);
+    const layout = computeGroupLayout(
+      ["Wildcard", "Semifinals"],
+      irregular,
+      new Map(),
+      ["Wildcard", "Semifinals"]
+    );
+    // b won Wildcard 2 (centre 1.5) and plays Semifinal 1 (centre 0.5) — a crossing
+    // edge that only the actual result can reveal.
+    expect(layout.edges).toContainEqual({ fromColumn: 0, fromCenter: 1.5, toCenter: 0.5 });
+    expect(layout.edges).toContainEqual({ fromColumn: 0, fromCenter: 0.5, toCenter: 1.5 });
+  });
+});
+
 describe("describeSlotSource", () => {
   const feeders = buildFeederMap(LLWS_20);
   const sourcesFor = (game: number): [SlotSource, SlotSource] => {
diff --git a/app/lib/bracket-layout.ts b/app/lib/bracket-layout.ts
index 49f5a09..e63027e 100644
--- a/app/lib/bracket-layout.ts
+++ b/app/lib/bracket-layout.ts
@@ -47,6 +47,16 @@ export type FeederMap = Map<string, [SlotSource, SlotSource]>;
 
 const SEED: SlotSource = { kind: "seed" };
 
+/**
+ * `template.id:roundName` for transitions routed by a dedicated advancement function
+ * rather than advanceWinnerTemplate's ceil(n/2) rule, and whose round sizes happen to
+ * halve so the check in buildFeederMap can't rule them out on shape alone.
+ *
+ * The NBA play-in is the case: Play-In Round 2 pairs the 7v8 *loser* with the 9v10
+ * winner (advanceNBAPlayInWinner), which no winners-only halving describes.
+ */
+const BESPOKE_TRANSITIONS = new Set(["nba_20:Play-In Round 1"]);
+
 export function matchKey(round: string, matchNumber: number): string {
   return `${round}#${matchNumber}`;
 }
@@ -94,22 +104,34 @@ export function buildFeederMap(template: BracketTemplate | undefined): FeederMap
     return feeders;
   }
 
-  for (let ri = 1; ri < template.rounds.length; ri++) {
-    const round = template.rounds[ri];
-    const prev = template.rounds[ri - 1];
+  // Follow each round's declared `feedsInto` rather than array order — AFL's Wildcard
+  // Round feeds the Elimination Finals, skipping the round printed next to it.
+  for (const prev of template.rounds) {
+    if (!prev.feedsInto) continue;
+    const round = template.rounds.find((r) => r.name === prev.feedsInto);
+    if (!round) continue;
+
+    // advanceWinnerTemplate sends match n to ceil(n/2) in the next round, slot by
+    // parity. That describes the bracket only where the round halves exactly; a
+    // play-in, a bye round, or a First Four routes by rules of its own, and inventing
+    // a halving there would draw connectors and slot labels that are simply wrong.
+    // Leaving those edges out drops the group to computeGroupLayout's fallback, which
+    // is the geometry these brackets already had.
+    if (prev.matchCount !== round.matchCount * 2) continue;
+    if (BESPOKE_TRANSITIONS.has(`${template.id}:${prev.name}`)) continue;
+
     for (let n = 1; n <= round.matchCount; n++) {
       const pair = slots(matchKey(round.name, n));
-      for (const [slotIdx, source] of [
-        [0, 2 * n - 1],
-        [1, 2 * n],
-      ] as const) {
-        if (source > prev.matchCount) continue;
-        pair[slotIdx] = {
-          kind: "match",
-          ref: { round: prev.name, matchNumber: source },
-          result: "winner",
-        };
-      }
+      pair[0] = {
+        kind: "match",
+        ref: { round: prev.name, matchNumber: 2 * n - 1 },
+        result: "winner",
+      };
+      pair[1] = {
+        kind: "match",
+        ref: { round: prev.name, matchNumber: 2 * n },
+        result: "winner",
+      };
     }
   }
 
@@ -195,6 +217,10 @@ export interface BracketLayout<M> {
 interface PositionedMatch {
   round: string;
   matchNumber: number;
+  /** Only read by the fallback, to trace edges through an unrecognised shape. */
+  winnerId?: string | null;
+  participant1Id?: string | null;
+  participant2Id?: string | null;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -328,8 +354,10 @@ export function computeGroupLayout<M extends PositionedMatch>(
 }
 
 /**
- * The previous behaviour: one column per round, matches spread evenly, no edges.
- * Used when a group's shape can't be resolved into a single tree.
+ * The previous behaviour, kept for groups whose shape can't be resolved into a single
+ * tree: one column per round, matches spread evenly over it, and edges inferred from the
+ * round sizes. Brackets with bespoke routing (AFL, CFP byes, a bracket with no template)
+ * land here, so it has to keep drawing what they drew before rather than nothing.
  */
 function fallbackLayout<M extends PositionedMatch>(
   visibleRounds: string[],
@@ -339,13 +367,54 @@ function fallbackLayout<M extends PositionedMatch>(
     ...visibleRounds.map((r) => matchesByRound.get(r)?.length ?? 0),
     1
   );
+  const centersFor = (matches: M[]) => {
+    const span = leafCount / Math.max(matches.length, 1);
+    return matches.map((_, i) => (i + 0.5) * span);
+  };
+
   const columns = visibleRounds.map((round) => {
     const matches = matchesByRound.get(round) ?? [];
-    const span = leafCount / Math.max(matches.length, 1);
+    const centers = centersFor(matches);
     return {
       label: round,
-      matches: matches.map((match, i) => ({ match, center: (i + 0.5) * span })),
+      matches: matches.map((match, i) => ({ match, center: centers[i] })),
     };
   });
-  return { columns, leafCount, edges: [] };
+
+  const edges: BracketLayout<M>["edges"] = [];
+  for (let ci = 0; ci < columns.length - 1; ci++) {
+    const from = columns[ci].matches;
+    const to = columns[ci + 1].matches;
+
+    if (to.length === Math.ceil(from.length / 2) && from.length > 1) {
+      // A halving: matches 2k and 2k+1 feed match k.
+      for (let k = 0; k < to.length; k++) {
+        for (const idx of [2 * k, 2 * k + 1]) {
+          if (idx >= from.length) continue;
+          edges.push({
+            fromColumn: ci,
+            fromCenter: from[idx].center,
+            toCenter: to[k].center,
+          });
+        }
+      }
+      continue;
+    }
+
+    // Otherwise the only thing that can be known is where a winner actually went, so
+    // nothing is drawn until the games are played.
+    const winnerToCenter = new Map<string, number>();
+    for (const { match, center } of from) {
+      if (match.winnerId) winnerToCenter.set(match.winnerId, center);
+    }
+    for (const { match, center } of to) {
+      for (const id of [match.participant1Id, match.participant2Id]) {
+        const fromCenter = id ? winnerToCenter.get(id) : undefined;
+        if (fromCenter === undefined) continue;
+        edges.push({ fromColumn: ci, fromCenter, toCenter: center });
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  return { columns, leafCount, edges };
 }
diff --git a/app/routes/__tests__/admin.sports-seasons.bracket.clear.test.ts b/app/routes/__tests__/admin.sports-seasons.bracket.clear.test.ts
index 4fb255a..c4e8e12 100644
--- a/app/routes/__tests__/admin.sports-seasons.bracket.clear.test.ts
+++ b/app/routes/__tests__/admin.sports-seasons.bracket.clear.test.ts
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ describe("clear-bracket", () => {
     );
   });
 
-  it("deletes the matches and the placements derived from them", async () => {
+  it("deletes the matches", async () => {
     vi.mocked(findPlayoffMatchesByEventId).mockResolvedValue([
       match(false),
       match(false),
@@ -78,7 +78,20 @@ describe("clear-bracket", () => {
 
     expect(result.success).toContain("2 match(es) removed");
     expect(deletePlayoffMatchesByEventId).toHaveBeenCalledWith("event-1");
-    expect(deleteParticipantResultsBySportsSeasonId).toHaveBeenCalledWith("season-1");
+  });
+
+  it("leaves placements alone — they belong to the whole season, not this event", async () => {
+    // seasonParticipantResults is keyed by sports season, so deleting here would wipe
+    // every other event's placements with nothing to rebuild them. Reprocess Bracket is
+    // the tool that rebuilds them correctly.
+    vi.mocked(findPlayoffMatchesByEventId).mockResolvedValue([
+      match(true),
+    ] as unknown as Awaited<ReturnType<typeof findPlayoffMatchesByEventId>>);
+
+    const result = await run(clearRequest("true"));
+
+    expect(deleteParticipantResultsBySportsSeasonId).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(result.success).toContain("Reprocess Bracket");
   });
 
   it("refuses to discard completed matches without confirmation", async () => {
@@ -91,7 +104,6 @@ describe("clear-bracket", () => {
 
     expect(result.error).toContain("1 completed match(es)");
     expect(deletePlayoffMatchesByEventId).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
-    expect(deleteParticipantResultsBySportsSeasonId).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
   });
 
   it("discards completed matches once confirmed", async () => {
diff --git a/app/routes/admin.sports-seasons.$id.events.$eventId.bracket.server.ts b/app/routes/admin.sports-seasons.$id.events.$eventId.bracket.server.ts
index a91a3db..0ffcc73 100644
--- a/app/routes/admin.sports-seasons.$id.events.$eventId.bracket.server.ts
+++ b/app/routes/admin.sports-seasons.$id.events.$eventId.bracket.server.ts
@@ -310,13 +310,20 @@ export async function action({ request, params }: Route.ActionArgs) {
       }
 
       await deletePlayoffMatchesByEventId(params.eventId);
-      // Placements were derived from the matches just deleted; leaving them behind would
-      // keep stale points on the standings.
-      await deleteParticipantResultsBySportsSeasonId(event.sportsSeasonId);
-      await recalculateAffectedLeagues(event.sportsSeasonId, database(), { skipDiscord: true });
+
+      // Placements are deliberately left alone. seasonParticipantResults is keyed by
+      // sports season, not by event, so a season-wide delete here would wipe the
+      // placements of every other event in the season with nothing to rebuild them —
+      // and on a finalized qualifying season that means permanently zeroed standings.
+      // Reprocess Bracket already rebuilds placements correctly, qualifying path
+      // included, so point the admin at it once the new bracket is in place.
+      const note =
+        completed > 0
+          ? " Run Reprocess Bracket after rebuilding to clear the placements those results produced."
+          : "";
 
       return {
-        success: `Bracket cleared (${existing.length} match(es) removed). Set it up again below.`,
+        success: `Bracket cleared (${existing.length} match(es) removed). Set it up again below.${note}`,
       };
     } catch (error) {
       logger.error("Error clearing bracket:", error);
diff --git a/app/routes/admin.sports-seasons.$id.events.$eventId.bracket.tsx b/app/routes/admin.sports-seasons.$id.events.$eventId.bracket.tsx
index 7be75fa..6442f20 100644
--- a/app/routes/admin.sports-seasons.$id.events.$eventId.bracket.tsx
+++ b/app/routes/admin.sports-seasons.$id.events.$eventId.bracket.tsx
@@ -622,17 +622,19 @@ export default function EventBracket({
                 <CardTitle>Clear Bracket</CardTitle>
                 <CardDescription>
                   Delete every match in this bracket so it can be set up again from
-                  scratch. Use this when the wrong participants were seeded. This also
-                  clears the season&apos;s placements and the points derived from them.
+                  scratch. Use this when the wrong participants were seeded. Placements
+                  are left alone — run Reprocess Bracket after rebuilding to clear any
+                  that the discarded results produced.
                 </CardDescription>
               </CardHeader>
               <CardContent>
                 <Form
                   method="post"
+                  className="space-y-3"
                   onSubmit={(e) => {
                     if (
                       !confirm(
-                        `Delete all ${matches.length} match(es) in this bracket? Recorded results and placements will be lost.`
+                        `Delete all ${matches.length} match(es) in this bracket? Recorded results will be lost.`
                       )
                     ) {
                       e.preventDefault();
@@ -640,7 +642,23 @@ export default function EventBracket({
                   }}
                 >
                   <input type="hidden" name="intent" value="clear-bracket" />
-                  <input type="hidden" name="confirm" value="true" />
+                  {/* The server refuses to discard completed matches unless this is
+                      checked. Sending it unconditionally from a hidden field would make
+                      that guard unreachable, including for a submit without JS. */}
+                  {matches.some((m: { isComplete: boolean }) => m.isComplete) && (
+                    <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
+                      <input
+                        type="checkbox"
+                        id="confirm-clear-bracket"
+                        name="confirm"
+                        value="true"
+                        className="h-4 w-4"
+                      />
+                      <Label htmlFor="confirm-clear-bracket" className="font-normal">
+                        Yes, discard the results already recorded in this bracket
+                      </Label>
+                    </div>
+                  )}
                   <Button type="submit" variant="destructive">
                     Clear Bracket
                   </Button>